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Show ContentsPeel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Peel is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived by the palisade. Peel was a square tower in olden times. 1 2

While the name is generally believed to be Anglo-Saxon, one source notes the name could have been Norman: "Radulphus Pele occurs in Normandy 1180; Robertus Piel 1180-95; William Pele 1198 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). Of these, Robert, son of Robert le Pele (c. t. Henry II.), gave lands in Monk Bretton, York, to the abbey there. From this northern family descended the Peels of Yorkshire and Lancashire, ancestors of the celebrated minister of England, Sir Robert Peel." 3

Early Origins of the Peel family

The surname Peel was first found in Lincolnshire where Walter Pele was registered in the Assize Rolls for 1202. In 1238, Henry Pele was listed in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire and later, Robert Peel was recorded in Nottinghamshire in 1382. Somerset records show Robert de Pele there in 1199. 4

"Many old mansions still bear the name of 'the Peel' in the North of England. Peel Castle in Furness is well known, and no doubt 'John Peel' of Cumberland hunting celebrity got his name from that spot. The name is still well known in that county. " 2

"Within my recollection, almost every old house in the dales of Rede and Tyne was what is called a peel-house, built for securing the inhabitants and their cattle in moss-trooping times." 5

Early History of the Peel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peel research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1556, 1565, 1598, 1890 and 1965 are included under the topic Early Peel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Peel Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Peel has been spelled many different ways, including Peel, Peal, Peale, Peele and others.

Early Notables of the Peel family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • George Peele (c1556-1598), Elizabethan translator, poet, and dramatist who some claim collaborated with William Shakespeare on the play Titus Andronicus; and Sir Robert Peel, statesman, who as Home Se...

Peel Ranking

In the United States, the name Peel is the 4,440th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Peel family to Ireland

Some of the Peel family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Peel migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Peels to arrive in North America:

Peel Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Peel, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1752
  • John Peel, who settled in New York in 1775
Peel Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Francis J Peel, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 7
  • Michael Peel, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1853 7
  • Amelia Peel, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 7
  • John Peel, aged 23, who landed in New York, NY in 1855 7
  • William William Peel, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1861 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Peel migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Peel Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Humphrey Peel U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 he became a Freeman in 1790 was a Blockmaster 8
  • Mr. Robert Peel U.E. who settled in Carleton [Saint John West], New Brunswick, Canada c. 1784 8
Peel Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Ms. Mary Peel, aged 26 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing from the port of Pursuit, Liverpool but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 9
  • Mr. John Peel, aged 14 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing 4th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but he died on board 10
  • Mr. William Peel, aged 6 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Pursuit" departing 4th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 23rd June 1847 but he died on board 10

Australia Peel migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Peel Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Peel, (Peele), British convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
  • William Peel, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Robert Peel, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 13
  • Mr. Robert Peel, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Duncan" on 10th December 1840, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 14
  • Mr. Robert Peel, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 30th June 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 15
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Peel migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Peel Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Alfred Peel, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
  • William Peel, aged 22, a blacksmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 16
  • Mr. William Peel, (b. 1852), aged 22, British blacksmith travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Halcione" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in September 1875 17

Contemporary Notables of the name Peel (post 1700) +

  • Mark Peel (1954-2021), American chef and restaurateur in California who won a James Beard Foundation Award in 2001
  • David Peel (1942-2017), born David Michael Rosario, American New York City-based musician, founding member of The Lower East Side Band
  • Zellner Peel, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kentucky, 1940 18
  • W. M. Peel, American politician, Representative from Arkansas 5th District, 1894 18
  • Samuel West Peel (1831-1924), American Democratic Party politician, U.S. Representative from Arkansas, 1883-93 18
  • Frank Peel, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Democrats Abroad, 1984 18
  • Elbert Sidney Peel Jr. (b. 1922), American Democratic Party politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate 2nd District, 1959 18
  • John Peel (1776-1854), English huntsman who came of an old yeoman or ‘statesman’ family of Caldbeck in Cumberland
  • Nigel David Peel (1967-2016), English cricketer who played for Cheshire from 1989 to 1996
  • Nathan James Peel (b. 1972), English former professional football striker
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Reginald K Peel (b. 1917), English Assistant Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Rajputana, India moved to Brighton, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 19

The Peel Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Industria
Motto Translation: Industrious.
  1. Halliwell, James Orchard. A Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial WordsLondon: John Russel Smith, Old Compton Street, Soho, 1848, Digital, 2 Vols
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  9. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 51)
  10. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 92)
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duncan
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  19. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
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